The Portland City Council listened intently Wednesday morning to a lengthy presentation about how to address glaring safety concerns along Southeast Powell while also incorporating bus rapid transit.

A group of presenters took turns analyzing the myriad issues facing a roughly 32-block section of Southeast Powell Boulevard. They talked about pedestrian safety concerns along the state highway, poorly used state-owned property on the southern side of the thoroughfare, and worries from residents about their physical safety at TriMet bus stops.

It was a business as usual presentation that covered a lot of territory.

However, the slick presentation didn't come from the usual suspects of city consultants or planning groups. A group of high school students participating in a month long program through Catlin Gabel School's Planning and Leadership Across City Environments, or PLACE program, put on the presentation.

Each cohort selected for the summer program spends a month learning about urban planning and government, honing their research skills and applying their new-found knowledge to a practical hands-on issue.

They left the City Council impressed and wanting copies of their findings as well as more information.

This year's crop of PLACE participants comes from six Portland area high schools. The 21 students spent the past month working with Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability staff as well as hitting the pavement in Southeast Portland to interview business owners and residents about their neighborhood.

Louise Ferrell makes her way safely across 82nd Avenue at Powell Boulevard in 2007. Safety along the state highway has been a concern for years.Olivia Bucks

PLACE focused on how to revitalize Powell between Southeast 52nd Avenue and Southeast 82nd Avenue by incorporating high capacity rapid transit.

The section of Powell has 28 bus stops, many of which are poorly maintained.

According to the student's survey of 160 residents, 54 percent of people polled said they didn't feel safe at the stops at night and 25 percent said they felt unsafe during the day.

The students analyzed potential uses for land owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation on the south side of Powell. The parcels, they said, are poorly maintained and not aesthetically pleasing.

Their proposal addresses safety concerns while also sprucing up the ODOT land.

The students' proposal shifts Powell Boulevard while maintaining four through lanes of traffic. PLACE recommended adding two dedicated lanes for high capacity transit, separated from the remaining lanes for safety concerns. New transit stations would be well-lit, include murals or public art and potentially include a community garden.

Portland needs to better connect with the community along Southeast Powell, according to the PLACE report. One student said "forgotten" was a common word that came up during their research and survey phase.

After the presentation, City Council members unanimously praised the group.

Commissioner Steve Novick, who is battling concerns that his street fee proposal gives too much money to safety projects, thanked the students for acknowledging residents' safety concerns.

Mayor Charlie Hales and Commissioner Nick Fish noted that planning staffs across the nation are aging and in need of an infusion of young blood and talent. Hales said the real staffing crisis is likely a decade away, just enough time for this group to go off to college and return to find a job with their home city.

Hales also noted the city is hoping to strike a deal with ODOT to transfer control of the state highway.

After the meeting, PLACE director George Zaninovich praised the group for devoting so much time to the program. "It takes a special kind of kid to take a month out of their summer," he said.

The 21 students are from Catlin Gabel, Central Catholic, Franklin, Wilson, Lincoln, and Grant High Schools.